Latest posts by michael wilson (see all)
- JORDAN RIVER - February 5, 2019
- Inspired Art - August 2, 2018
- Waiting for Inspiration - July 31, 2018
- The Bridge between Painting and Photography - July 31, 2018
Television and art are not especially co-compatible. Invariably those periods when I cut out watching television my artistic productivity increases. This article is geared towards the artists out there who are struggling with creativity, and if you are I suggest laying off the boob tube for a couple weeks and see what happens.
As an example have you noticed what kind of thoughts you go to bed with after spending a couple hours surfing channels? Nothing very inspiring ? It is difficult for my mind to turn off the images, especially the sordid and violent images which are so prevalent on T.V. Being creative requires a fairly clear head and much of the gestation occurs during sleep. I will often plant an idea in my mind, something I am trying to work out for a painting and go to sleep with it. After several nights I will often wake up with some kind of creative solution. Turning off the mental pollution seems to help immensely.
I read about a fairly famous woman artist – a minimalist who admitted often staying in bed sometimes until late in the afternoon until the idea she was after became clear enough to start a painting. The point is that a gestation period is undeniable. It is impossible to just come home from work and start in. With abstrast art especially there is a process of thinking through a piece to get a sense of the concept. A perfectly clear image is not necessary, but a point of departure is critical. I say gestation but you could call it meditating on an idea or getting in touch with something deep within, or drawing out a feeling. Whatever you call it the process is fairly unique to the creative process.
Our instant society is not especially patient and as a result we can get frustrated when it takes awhile for a good, worthwhile concept to develop for a painting. Clicking on the T.V. is more of this just filling in with white noise but we become mentally polluted in the process and block the creative process. ALone time is necessary. I think it is a good idea to have a sketch book in the house…just randomly sketching helps the creative process.